5. Walk Away
by Ben Harper
Rosalie could see his brow furrowing at the very sight of her, Edward still didn't expect her to stop. The thought never really crossed his mind. "Tired?" he asked, already knowing the answer. Her pale skin was lifeless, her lips chapped and it was as if someone had punched her in the face, leaving the skin around her eyes dark.
Having forgotten about breakfast, Rosalie figured it was the safer option and still the truth. "Just looking forward to dinner."
She didn't want him to know how messed up she was. That she let words spoken years prior… for the first eighteen years of her life, still ruled her life. Still made every day a struggle and every night a horror. She didn't want him to know that she hadn't slept in almost three days, that this happened too often in her life. Monthly. That she was more than any other person should have to handle.
Edward just nodded as he watched her walk away, and she didn't look back, even though she, for the first time, wanted to more than anything. Even more than sleep. Instead of looking back, she turned the corner and found Alice standing outside the lecture hall. Her friend was giving her a worried look from the moment they saw each other, but at Rose's bleak but trying smile, she launched into a description of her gaming pursuits instead. She had learned enough about Rosalie to know that she was a very private person and even though she from time to time would open up in private, asking her a loaded question like that in public would not be a good idea.
When Alice saw her friend frown herself, she turned her head and saw the professor walking towards them with a key. However, the old man unlocking their classroom would hardly explain the confused expression on Rosalie's delicate face.
It wasn't until a young man, someone Alice couldn't help to turn to look after when he passed, walked by with a guitar on his back, that Alice got her answer. When he was close enough, he threw a green apple towards Rosalie. Turning it in her hand once, as if she would be able to find the explanation written on it, Rose stared at the apple. Alice looked back from the man just as she caught the expression on his face. It was in response to the amusement washing over Rosalie's face as she shook her head once and took a bite out of the apple.
Alice didn't move, and she wasn't the only one looking between the two with big eyes. He was walking out of the building and Rosalie into the classroom, they hadn't said a word and still, the moment spoke volumes.
Finally, the small dark haired girl snorted loudly and then broke out in laughter as she followed Rose. This, she found interesting.